News and commentary about the reigning royal houses of the United Kingdom, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Belgium, Luxembourg, Liechtenstein, the Netherlands, Spain, Monaco -- and the former European monarchies as well.

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Thursday, September 24, 2015

Sisi Smokes!

Empress Elisabeth of Austria smokes "from thirty to forty Turkish and Russian cigarettes a day," according to a Los Angeles Times dispatch. It has been her "inveterate custom to puff away after dinner" with a strong Italian cigar, one of those with a straw running through it." It is brought to her with "her cup of Turkish coffee every evening on a gold salver."

Elisabeth, the consort of Emperor Franz Josef, says that "smoking soothes her nerves," and whenever she feels 'blue.' she lights up a cigar or a cigarette, which allows her to "see things in a happier light."

She will "almost mechanically" light a cigarette, one after another, as she sits in her "great writing room" at Godollo, which is fitted with "carved oak panels and Gobelin tapestries." Smoking as certainly affected the Empress' "slender, white hand," which some have noticed "a faint yellow stain on the first and second fingers of the left hand," caused by the smoking.

Now available for purchase: a well-researched, footnoted article on the life of Grand Duke Michael Mikahilovich of Russia, whose marriage to Countess Sophie von Merenberg was unequal, but a love match. I wrote this piece some years ago for Royalty Digest, and now again available. The price is $5.00 (and will be sent to you as a PDF). Just click on the Buy Now link for purchase. Thanks.

The Gleichens: the Unknown Royal Cousins

My article, The Gleichens: the Unknown Royal Cousins, is now available through Kindle on Amazon, in all the Amazons' Kindle stores. This link is for US Amazon. The price is $9.99. Just visit your Amazon and go to the Kindle store, search for my article. The article runs more than 50 pages! And who were the Gleichens: Prince Victor of Hohenlohe-Langenburg (nephew of Queen Victoria) and his family. His marriage to Lady Laura Seymour was considered unequal, and his wife and children were created Countesses and Count Gleichen. A German title but very English people .... Feodora, Edward, Valda and Helena .. all talented and interesting people. True junior royals.

BOOK OF THE DAY

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All materials contained on this site are protected by United States copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed or published without the prior approval of Marlene A. Koenig. You can, however, provide a link to the blog or to a post on the blog. Please credit Marlene A Koenig and Royal Musings. Thanks

Sources

The sources consulted for this blog include the New York Times, the Chicago Daily Tribune, the Los Angeles Times, the Associated Press, the Washington Post, and The Times. I also consult books and other materials in my personal library. All the photos come from my personal collection, unless other noted.